Repayment of £66 energy grant

[TheLette]

Hi bit of a niche one but wonder if anyone has any experience.

My elderly dad got a £66 energy bill grant added to his gas/electricity bill on 1 October.

He then closed the account on 13 November. This was because he sold the property (he had been unable to sell it for a few years so was renting it out). He didn't transfer the account to a new address because he personally didn't move - he was already living somewhere else. He just closed the account.

The energy supplier has since tried to claim repayment of the £66. They say that their policy is to cancel the payment if anyone closes their account before the middle of the month. Thing is, I can't find any support for this policy on the government or energy supplier's websites about the grant. It feels like they've made up their own rules which conflict with the government website which clearly says that the grant is not repayable.

I'm challenging the supplier on this and asked on what basis they are clawing back the payment. Fair enough if the rules clearly state that they can claw it back, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I bet they won't repay it to the government if they do claw it back either!

Has anyone else experienced similar?

Oops - one error. He closed account on 13 October not 13 November.

I think, reading this from the gov.uk website, it's repayable at least in part because he closed the account on 13 October

This means that where a person’s housing circumstances change during the 6-month period, such as those leaving or moving home, they will still benefit from the relevant portion of the total £400

Relevant portion being 1-13 October when he had the benefit of it.

www.gov.uk/government/news/400-energy-bills-discount-to-support-households-this-winter

I'd ask for a copy of their policy and if it's in line with govt guidance. And what govt guidance actually is when someone moves.

Sorry, link didn't work

www.gov.uk/government/news/400-energy-bills-discount-to-support-households-this-winter

I give up. I googled 'energy grant repayable' so that should bring up the relevant page on gov.uk.

Thank you. I've asked the supplier already to justify their policy. They aren't allowing him part of the £66 (i.e. in respect of 1-13 October), they are just saying he isn't entitled to it at all which doesn't align with the government info. It would make sense to me if they paid it accidentally (e.g. they paid it on 1 October but he actually called them up on the same day after they added it to his account to say that he had sold the property before 1 October) but that's not what happened.

I'm the sort of person who likes chapter and verse and doesn't like an airy 'oh it's our policy.' In writing, please, and back up on if what what you're doing is what the govt intended.

Yep exactly! Otherwise it's just nonsense isn't it! Anyway hopefully I'll successfully challenge it. My dad can pay it if needed but it annoys me that they are doing this. Other people may not be able to afford it or be able to challenge them on their policy or totally incomprehensible bills!